Bruce Penhalls son Killed by drunk driver

The son of Hall of Fame motorcycle racer Bruce Penhall, who reportedly was killed by a drunk driver, was part of a contract crew working for Caltrans on the 10 Freeway in Baldwin Park, police said.

Connor McDermott Penhall, 21, of Corona, was struck about 11:45 p.m. Wednesday on the westbound side of the freeway by a Toyota Rav4 that drove through the construction barricades, said California Highway Patrol officer Kerri Rivas.

KTLA-TV reported that Penhall was the son of Bruce Penhall, the former motorcycle racing champion and TV and film star.

The younger Penhall attended Lee Pollard High School in Corona, according to his Facebook page.

He also rode motorcycles, competing along with his brother in a series of off-road races, like the Baja 500 in Mexico, under the Penhall team name.

His brother, Ryan Penhall, posted on Twitter: “You never know what you have until you lose it.. Don't call me."

Investigators believe the driver, Tatsuhiko Sakamoto, 37, of Arcadia, was under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, DUI and driving without a license.

Bruce Penhall retired from racing after he won his second world championship in 1982 in front of his home crowd at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum. He then joined the cast of the television series "CHiPs." LA Times